Learning Unboxed

Welcome to another exciting episode of "Learning Unboxed" where we’re talking about zoo schools as transformative educational institutions.We're joined by four distinguished guests from the world of zoo education and conservation: Chris Edelen, a career tech teacher at Cincinnati Public Schools' Hughes STEM School and a former zookeeper at the Cincinnati Zoo, brings in over two decades of experience in the zoo and education sectors; Trene't Schill, a proud 2018 Zoo Academy alumni and University of Cincinnati graduate, specialized in Horticultural Science; Rickey Kinley, a dedicated professional, who's led a career spanning 28 years at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden and is currently the head keeper of the aviculture department; finally, we have Nhy'Aire Dunn-North, an ambitious senior at the Zoo Academy, who aspires to make a difference in the zoo conservation space, particularly in the African and elephant exhibits.Tune in to learn how specialized programs like the Zoo Academy can contribute to the personal and professional development of students, even in areas where such programs don't exist. Our guests discuss how to encourage students toward these unique opportunities, the importance of developing soft skills, and the practical application of animal training techniques in human interactions.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:What the Cincinnati Zoo Academy is all aboutHow Hughes STEM School began working with the Zoo AcademyThe cross-disciplinary skills students can learn at Zoo AcademyResources:Learn more at cincinnatizoo.org/education/the-zoo-academyHughes STEM High SchoolProduced by Nova Media

Welcome to another episode of Learning Unboxed, where we dive into the innovative and transformative world of education. Today, we're thrilled to have Catherine Gray, the founder of Na'atik School in Mexico. Na'atik is an intercultural school that has been disrupting traditional education models by blending local and foreign learning experiences for over 12 years.In this episode, Catherine discusses the evolution and mission of Na'atik, an institution that provides subsidized English classes to local and indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto Mexico while also offering language and cultural immersion experiences for foreign students. She shares her journey of growing Na'atik into an intercultural hub, granting scholarships to local students and inviting foreign students to learn Mexican Spanish and Yucatec Maya.We delve into the power and importance of authentic intercultural interactions, how they can revolutionize traditional education systems, and their role in providing immersive, free-form, and free-flowing learning experiences. Catherine takes us through the unique dynamics of immersive learning at Na'atik, where adults from around the world are often taught by children, thus fostering a bi-directional learning environment.Join us for this enlightening conversation to understand how learning experiences can be enriched through intercultural immersion and how such models can positively disrupt traditional views on education.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Catherine's journey as the founder of Na'atik School in MexicoThe unique intercultural model of Na'atik SchoolThe importance of authentic intercultural interactions in educationThe role of immersive, free-form, and free-flowing learning experiences at Na'atik SchoolThe unique dynamics of immersive learning where adults are often taught by childrenChallenges faced by Catherine in her journey, including economic difficulties and gaining community trustThe role of authenticity, trust, and respect for local culture in educationResources:Learn more at naatikmexico.orgConnect with Catherine on LinkedInProduced by Nova Media

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we explore the transformative power of student agency and autonomy in education. Our guest is Mike Nicholson, principal of Learning Inspired Ed, a forward-thinking education consultancy agency dedicated to supporting the development of student agency across school districts.Mike shares his passion for moving from a compliance-based education system to one where students have the freedom to make decisions about their learning. We dive into the "55 perspectives" he has developed for teachers to transform their classrooms, including the idea of shadowing a student for an entire day to gain a visceral understanding of their experience. Mike also offers a practical tip for teachers who want to introduce student autonomy in their classrooms but may not be able to do so on a larger scale.Join us for an insightful conversation on the power of student agency and how to implement it in your classroom. Reach out to Mike at Learning Inspired Ed for resources and support on this transformative journey.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Defining student agency and autonomyThe 55 perspectives of giving kids control and autonomy over their learningHow minimizing educational hierarchy can allow autonomy to flourishThe student autonomy breakdownResources:Learn more at learninspired.orgFollow Mike Nicholson on Twitter: @mnicholson_mikeProduced by Nova Media

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we're exploring the innovative world of self-directed learning with April Huard, the Executive Director of Clonlara School, a K-12 institution that empowers students to take charge of their own education. Starting as a small homeschooling collective, Clonlara School has expanded to multiple campuses across the United States with a mission to transform education on a global scale.April shares insights on the self-directed learning model, which allows students to choose their projects and follow their interests while being supported by facilitators who guide them through the learning process. She also addresses the challenges they face, such as misconceptions about self-directed learning and scaling their model to include more students.One of the core values of Clonlara School is joy, and April talks about the immense joy she finds in her work, witnessing students discovering their passions and families expressing gratitude for the transformations they've seen in their children. The school requires senior students to complete a capstone project, showcasing their diverse interests and talents. Join us in this inspiring conversation to learn more about the importance of giving students the time, space, and freedom to follow their interests and pursue what is important to them.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:How Clonlara offers multiple ways for participating in its education systemThe “full circle learning” approach to educationGiving kids ownership of their educationTraining educators to empower kidsResources:Learn more at clonlara.orgProduced by Nova Media

We're diving into the fascinating realm of global citizenship through the lens of a fantastic program called World Savvy. Our esteemed guests are Dana Mortenson, co-founder and CEO of World Savvy, a national education nonprofit working to educate and engage youth as responsible global citizens, and KK Neimann, World Savvy's Director of Professional Learning, with an impressive 20 years of teaching experience in social studies across fifth to 12th grades.We explore the changing landscape of education and the pivotal role of World Savvy in fostering global competence among K-12 students and teachers. We discuss the importance of integrating global competence into education, preparing students for an interconnected and rapidly changing world. World Savvy's approach champions project-based learning, empowering students to tackle real-world issues while honing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.Join us as we underscore the importance of global competence and adapting to change to better prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Cultivating global competency in K-12 educationCreating a future-proof model of educationGetting everyone in the school community to work togetherResources:Learn more at worldsavvy.orgConnect with Dana on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dana-mortenson-a691893Connect with KK on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kk-neimann-2875144Produced by Nova Media

Welcome to today's episode of Learning Unboxed! In this episode, we're excited to have an incredible conversation with our guest, Michael Stone, from the Public Education Foundation, based in Tennessee. Michael has an impressive career journey, including being an Albert Einstein Educator Fellow with the National Science Foundation and spending 10 years as a high school mathematics and computer science teacher. In his current role, he's led the development of the largest school-based Fab Lab network in the world through the Volkswagen e-Lab.We dive deep into the impact of maker spaces and fabrication spaces on education, emphasizing the importance of teaching essential skills like collaboration, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. We explore the opportunities for meaningful learning in schools through Fab Labs and discuss the importance of tracking essential skills and technical proficiencies in student learning.Michael shares his insights on an app called Fabfolio, designed to track these skills. He also recounts a story of how a history teacher incorporated a project involving a 3D printer, leading to an epiphany for two students who had never seen themselves in the lab before.Join us to learn more about the importance of tracking data to refine educational models and make more informed choices as we scale across the country and the world. Don't miss out on this fascinating conversation, and be sure to reach out to Michael if you're inspired by his work. Check out the Fab Labs website and Fabfolio app for further exploration.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:The transformative role of Fab Labs in education and skill developmentAddressing the future workforce needs through essential skills and hands-on learning experiencesThe Fabfolio app: tracking student skills and refining educational modelsResources:Visit fablabs.io for more informationConnect with Michael Stone on LinkedInProduced by Nova Media

Dr. Trevor Soponis is the Founder and Chief Learning Officer of The Sustainable Learning Projects, a lifelong education professional with experience in leading transformative education projects. The purpose of The Sustainable Learning Projects is to provide students with meaningful work that is relevant to their lives and to provide teachers with the curriculum and support they need to make their lives easier. He is focused on having students, teachers, and schools tackle meaningful real-world problems. We talk about the projects that he has worked on, how programs like this can scale, and how a part of their program, Project Student Voice, allows students to customize their curriculum around their passions.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Why the Sustainable Learning Projects exist and what they doCreating models for programs that work and scaling themProject Student Voice and providing opportunities for students to share their voiceResources:Learn more at thesustainablelearningprojects.comConnect with Trevor on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/trevor-soponis-phdProduced by Nova Media

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we're diving into the exciting world of STEM Games with Josip Torić, the Director of Sports at STEM Games. STEM Games is an international competition that allows students to showcase their knowledge, athletic abilities, and gaming skills across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.Josip Torić, who has been instrumental in the growth of STEM Games in Croatia, will be sharing his insights into the competition's success and the benefits it provides for students. We'll be discussing the different arenas of the competition, including the knowledge, sports, and esports components, and the innovative tasks that students tackle in each.Join us to learn more about how STEM Games encourages creative problem-solving and provides a powerful networking opportunity for STEM students.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Solving real world problems through STEM Games and focused hackathonsWhat students can learn from the eSports arenaThe qualities that make a student succeed at STEM problem-solvingCrafting the right challenges for optimal learningResources:Learn more at stemgames.hrConnect with Josip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/josiptoricProduced by Nova Media

Today's episode is a special takeover, hosted by Ibrahim Aly, a Metro High School junior participant in the PAST Foundation's Workforce Development Program. Ibrahim previously joined us on episode 165 to talk about using internships to encourage STEM careers, and we're thrilled to have him back to lead the conversation about fusion splicing.A panel of experts will join Ibrahim to discuss this exciting field. Pat Stichter, the hyper-scale trainer from Sumitomo, brings years of experience in the industry. Quin Jernigan, the economic workforce development manager from Amazon Web Services, will discuss the career opportunities available in this field and the skills needed to succeed. Wesley Olinger, the division manager from Team Fishel, will share his perspective on the importance of workforce development and training in this industry. Together, this panel will provide a comprehensive overview of fusion splicing and its potential as a career path. Join us as we learn more about this fascinating field and what it takes to succeed in it.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:What fusion splicing is and what it has to do with Amazon’s data centersWhat skills are essential to success in the fusion splicing industryThe things students can do today to get ready to enter this fieldResources:Learn more about Sumitomo: sumitomocorp.comConnect with Quin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/quin-jernigan-phdConnect with Wesley on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wesley-olinger-b9097210a165. Using Internships to Spur Interest in STEM Careers with Nikki StancampianoProduced by Nova Media

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, our guest is Bo Ryan, the principal of Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet School in Bloomfield, Connecticut, and the author of “The Brilliance in the Building”. Bo is a passionate advocate for professional learning communities (PLCs) and believes in the power of collaborative teams in schools.In our conversation, Bo shares his insights into what PLCs are and why they are not yet widely implemented in schools. He discusses the benefits of building out collaborative teams within schools and how this approach can lead to more effective teaching and learning.Bo emphasizes the importance of learning by doing and shares his experiences with implementing PLCs at Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet School. He also offers practical advice for educators who want to develop and sustain their own PLCs. Tune in to hear his expert insights and learn how you can build and sustain a professional learning community in your own school.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:What professional learning communities are and why it isn’t already being used in schoolsBuilding out collaborative teams within schoolsThe importance of learning by doingResources:Learn more: solutiontree.com/bo-ryanRead: The Brilliance in the BuildingConnect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bo-ryan-077a8299Produced by Nova Media